If you read my last blog post, you know we got all serious about investing in long-life kitchen essentials—things like cast iron pans and Dutch ovens that last forever (as long as you don’t accidentally use soap on them and send Grandma rolling in her grave). Those big investments are like the dependable old truck of the kitchen world. Reliable. Built to last. A little heavy.

But today? We’re not talking about splurges. Nope. We’re diving headfirst into the bargain bin of brilliance: 10 kitchen gadgets under $20 that actually save you money. Think of them as the scrappy sidekicks of your kitchen—the Robin to your cast iron Batman.

And before you roll your eyes at the word “gadget,” don’t worry—I’m not here to sell you something that peels bananas for you (because… who actually struggles with that?). These are real tools that make cooking faster, reduce waste, and ultimately save you cash. Plus, they’re the kind of cheap thrills that make you feel like Gordon Ramsay without having to refinance your house for a $400 stand mixer.

Let’s get into it.

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1. A Garlic Press – Because Chopping Tiny Things is Annoying

Garlic is basically kitchen gold. It makes everything taste better and also keeps vampires away. But chopping garlic cloves into microscopic pieces? Tedious. That’s where the humble garlic press comes in.

For under $15, you can smash garlic like a pro, save time, and avoid accidentally cutting off a chunk of your fingertip. Plus, pre-chopped garlic from the store costs way more, so this gadget pays for itself in, like, three pasta nights.

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2. Digital Kitchen Scale – Stop Guessing, Start Saving

Recipes that say “two cups of flour” are the reason half of us end up with dry, sad cookies. A kitchen scale takes the guesswork out of cooking and helps with portion control.

It’s also the ultimate budget hack for coffee lovers: weigh your grounds instead of eyeballing them, and suddenly that bag of beans lasts longer. Under $20, sleek, and small enough to fit in your “I might use this someday” drawer.

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3. Mason Jars – The Beyoncé of Food Storage

Okay, technically not a gadget, but hear me out: mason jars are the most versatile under-$20 kitchen purchase you can make. Leftover soup? Mason jar. Homemade iced coffee? Mason jar. Overnight oats because you swore you’d stop buying $7 Starbucks parfaits? Mason jar.

They’re reusable, they reduce food waste, and they save you from buying single-use storage containers that crack after two dishwasher cycles. Honestly, they deserve their own fan club.

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4. Reusable Silicone Baking Mats – Say Goodbye to Parchment Paper

Do you know how much parchment paper costs over a year? Too much. A one-time $15 silicone mat means no more re-buying rolls of paper, no more sticking cookies, and no more “why did this pizza weld itself to the pan” situations.

Plus, they make you look like you know what you’re doing when you slide them out on baking day. That’s priceless.

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5. Herb Scissors – Because Chopping Cilantro is a Crime Against Patience

Regular scissors are for paper. Herb scissors—with their five glorious blades—are for cutting cilantro, parsley, and basil without feeling like you’re auditioning for a knife skills competition.

Here’s where the savings kick in: when chopping herbs isn’t a pain, you actually use the bunch before it wilts into slime at the bottom of your fridge. Less food waste = more money in your pocket.

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6. Potato Masher – Smash More Than Just Potatoes

Yes, you can mash potatoes with a fork. But should you? No. Because you’ll end up frustrated, your potatoes will look sad, and you’ll secretly Google “instant mashed potatoes acceptable dinner?” (not to say I’ve never used those, 🤗)

A potato masher costs less than $10 and also works on guacamole, beans for tacos, and even baby food. It’s basically the Swiss Army knife of smashing. And it saves you from buying pre-mashed things, which always cost more.

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7. Citrus Juicer – Fresh Squeeze, Small Price

Buying bottled lemon or lime juice is convenient, but the taste? Meh. Plus, it’s more expensive. A hand-held citrus juicer costs under $15 and gets every last drop out of your lemons, limes, or even small oranges.

Suddenly your homemade margaritas are restaurant-level, and you’ve stopped letting those “buy one get one” limes rot in your fruit bowl. Cheers to savings.

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8. Magnetic Measuring Spoons – Never Dig in the Drawer Again

Measuring spoons that nest and magnetize together? Game changer. No more digging around for the elusive ½ teaspoon while holding a dripping spoon of vanilla extract.

They’re inexpensive, they save your sanity, and they keep you from accidentally dumping too much baking soda into cookies. (Because let’s be honest—throwing out a ruined batch of cookies hurts your wallet and your soul.)

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9. Produce Saver Containers – Extend the Life of Your Lettuce

Bagged salad is the Bermuda Triangle of the fridge. One day it’s there, the next day it’s a slimy mess. Enter: produce saver containers. You can grab one for under $20, and they keep your greens, berries, and herbs fresh for way longer.

That means fewer trips to the store and fewer guilty trash can confessions.

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10. Immersion Blender – Soup, Smoothies, and Sauces Without the Drama

Full-size blenders are expensive and bulky. Immersion blenders (a.k.a. stick blenders) are under $20 and can do 80% of what a regular blender does—directly in your pot or cup. And you don’t have to worry about how scrape out what’s stuck in the bottom of the blender.

Smoothies, creamy soups, homemade salad dressings—it’s all easier, faster, and cheaper than buying the pre-made versions. Plus, less cleanup. Which is worth at least $10 of emotional savings, right?

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The Big Picture: Little Gadgets, Big Savings

Are these under-$20 gadgets going to single-handedly buy you a vacation to Italy? No. But they’ll absolutely make cooking easier, reduce food waste, and keep you from overspending on store-bought shortcuts.

Think of it like this: in our last post, we focused on the “forever” tools—the cast irons, Dutch ovens, and jars that stand the test of time. Those are the foundation. But these little under-$20 wonders? They’re the reinforcements. The helpers. The ones that make sure you actually use the big-ticket items instead of letting them gather dust while you order DoorDash again.

So grab a gadget (or three), laugh at how something so small makes such a difference, and start watching the savings pile up—one smashed potato, one freshly squeezed lime, and one jar of overnight oats at a time.